Paper-fastener



(No Model.)

Z 1 mo u A d e uv n w ma P E T S A h R E P A P UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- PARKER L. VALTER, QF ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA.

PAPER-FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 434,101, dated August 12, 1890.

Application filed October 7, 1889, Serial No. 326,255. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PARKER L. ALTER, a resident of Allegheny city, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Paper and Package Fasteners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to the metallic fasteners for binding papers together, closing envelopes or like packages, and for similarpurposes. The simplest form of these paper-fasteners-such as provides for the opening of the fastener, after it has been brought into use consists in a fastener having a head and having a shank or shanks for penetrating the paper, which are adapted to be bent over to one side and hold the paper. through which they pass, these fasteners having generally a single shank formed of two blades fitting close together, so that they may be passed through the one hole and then spread apart, but in some cases having the form of a staple with a shank at each end of the body or head, the shanks passing through separate holes formed in the paper and then bent over. In fastening papers together, however, it is often desirable to separate them into different packages, either for subsequent removal or for other such purposes-that is,while all are fastened into one package several sheets are held separate from the others-this being oftendesirable in filing away letters and other papers. This class of fasteners is also often used for the purpose of fastening the flaps of envelopes down, as in using large envelopes for mailin g purposes or for closing paper or like packages containing different materials, and in such use objection has always been found in the fact that before the envelope was closed it was necessary to bend the shank out of shape in order to retain the fastener in place, or there was liability of the fastener slipping out of the hole through which it was placed and being lost.

My invention is directed toward the formation of such a paper-fastener to meet these difficulties; and it consists in a metallic paper-fastener having a head and a fastening shank or prong extending out substantially at right angles from the head and containing two or more fastening-fingers fitting the one within the other, so that the smaller finger or fingers can be bent over and retain certain papers or retain the fastener in the envelope or package while the main shank extends out in'position to pass through other papers and be subsequently bent down to place.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will describe the same more fully, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figures 1, 2, and 3 are perspective views of my improved fastener. Fig. 4 is a view of an envelope having the fastener applied thereto,

and Fig. 5 shows the blank from which the;

fastener shown in Fig. 1 is formed.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in each of the figures.

My improved fastener, as illustrated in the a and the shank or shanks 1) extending up therefrom, said shank in Figs. 1 and 2 consisting of two prongs fitting close to each other, as in the usual construction of such fasteners, and in Fig. 3 a shank extending up at each end of the head or body. The form of head or body shown in the fastener is not of im portance, and any suitable head may of course be employed for the purpose. It is requisite, however, that the shank or shanks shall exdrawings, consists of the head or body portion tend out at substantially right angles from the head, so that when they are passed through the paper the head will rest against the other side thereof and prevent the entire fastener from passing through. The shank portion is formed of brass or other suitable sheet metal, and in each prong c of the shank I form one or more fingers, fitting within the same, as at d e.that is,in each prong,when it is stamped or cut to shape by suitable dies, the fingers d e are stamped out of the body of the prong, the preferable form of such fingers being shown in the drawings, in which the fingers are formed out of the central part of the prong, so as to be entirely inclosed in the body thereof, though any other suitable construction in which the fingers are cut from the blade or shank may be employed. Inthe construction shown, at each side of the prong c is formed a strip or rib fiwhich supports the point or upper end 9 of the prong, while within the same in Fig. 1 is shown the finger d, but one such finger being employed, and in Fig. 2 said finger d has formed within the same the finger e, the point h of the finger d being supported by a like strip or rib '6 on each side of the finger c. This form enables me to bend down the finger d, or the finger e, as may be desired, While the main prong 0 extends up, so as to penetrate other papers placed over the same. Thus in holding papers, certain papers may be placed over the shank and the fingers e bent down to hold them, and other papers may then be placed over the shank and the finger d bent down to hold them, and other papers then placed over the shank, and main prong c of the shank be bent down to hold these papers.

It said fastener is employed in connection with envelopes, boxes, or like devices for closing them and holding the flap portion thereof, (such as shown in Fig. 4,) the fastener may be passed through the body of the envelope or box in position to engage with the flap thereof, and the fingers cl be bent down upon the outer surface of the envelope, so retaining the fastener by means of the headafitting on one side thereof and the fingers d fitting on the other side thereof, and the shank bextending up in position to enter the flap of the envelope, so that the prongs c of the shank may be spread out and hold the flap closed.

Though any suitable form of head or body may be employed, that shown in Fig. 1 is preferred by me, this head having a flat substantially circular extension (0 on each side of the body portion, from which the prongs are bent upward, and the fastener being formed from a blank such as shown in Fig. 5, this blank having the center portion 7' and the prongs c c on opposite sides thereof, and having the extensions 19 p opposite. each other ,and extending out at right angles to the "blanks can be punched out with but little loss of metal.

My improved fastener can be formed at practically no expense over the ordinary paper-fastener of the same shape, as the extra finger or fingers can be punched out of the prong at the same time that the prong is cut to shape, and in bending the fastener to the finished shape the extra fingers will bebrought into proper position for subsequent use.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A paper-fastener comprising a head and two prongs extending out at right angles to said head, said prongs having cut therefrom one or more fingers or auxiliary points having the bases toward the head of the fastener, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I, the said PARKER L. WVALTER, have hereunto set my hand.

PARKER L. \VALTER.

Witnesses:

F. G. KAY, J. N. OooKE. 

